Opinions on buying horses from auction

Miz Khiz · 10-11-2003, 06:58 PM

I've always wanted to buy a horse at an auction.. maybe because I feel I'm saving it from something (depending on the type of auction) or I like the idea of auctions.. but I've heard a lot of horror stories from buying horses from auction.
Just a few questions I have
1.) Are you allowed to ride the horse before giving the money or do you have to pay in advance?
2.) Are horses at the auction for a reason (like they aren't the greatest horses) or can a good horse end up at auction?

What's your opinions on auction horses?? (I know it depends on the auction.. but yeah I don't think there are very good ones around here but I'm wondering if they're worth checking out)

BarrelBrat666 · 10-11-2003, 07:02 PM

to answer #2 good horses deffinatly show up @ auctions.... i used to have a friend who would go to the auction every month and hardly ever came bac w/ out something..... and most of the horses she came bac w/ were really good... (not perfect) but not as bad as some.. and i think it depends on the auction and the owner on wether or not u get to ride be4 sometimes u do sometimes u don't
hope this helps

QHGirl · 10-11-2003, 07:06 PM

Some auctions you can ride the horses around before hand, but keep in mind some horse people are not "HONEST" and sometimes can give them bute to mask pain and lameness, and "cocktails" to calm them down to be the best horse. Some people do take good horses to auctions but finding those are hard. I know someone who bought a yearling at a auction (amish auction) and he was not registerd, and grew up to be the nicest horse, beautiful, great comformation and versitle.. english/western/roping etc... loved that horse. BUT some can be completely opposite and not that great. If you are really wanting a horse, try to visit local and area wide 4-H fairs/clubs to see if anyone going to college is trying to sell or lease their horse. That is the best thing, if you can find that type of situation... they are more willing to sell to someone who will use them, than take to auction, not knowing the outcome.

Be careful, if you do get one, go to the auction whenever possible, people watch, find out if the same people come back and buy horses, and sell them every time, because they can be considered "horse traders" and normally buy and sell at different auctions, but they are very religious about coming every auction time.

Have you thought about rescue? From all of your descriptions and postings and problems from your current mare, I would think you should go with the 4-H or good quality horse in the paper or online comapared to what you get at an auction... that is just my opinion... take it for what it is worth!!!!

Dawn · 10-11-2003, 07:10 PM

Well, here goes.

1.) Are you allowed to ride the horse before giving the money or do you have to pay in advance?

It depends on the auction. It would definatly be something that you would want to find out before you even began looking at the horses. You must also be aware that any of those horses could be drugged and/or sedated. That is a big bad point against auctions.

2.) Are horses at the auction for a reason (like they aren't the greatest horses) or can a good horse end up at auction?

Again, it depends. There will probably be a majority of there is something wrong with them. Every once in awhile, you'll find a nice horse at an auction. There could be a number of reasons that they're there. It could be that they were too high of a level for the owner, the owner just stopped riding, the horse is old, etc...however, at your average auction, there's probably going to be a reason that you don't like for them being there.

If you do go to an auction, you need to take a very highly qualified person with you. Normally, I would suggest your instructor. However, you do not have an instructor. My basic advice to you would be to not go. Unless you're at a really high class auction, they are not going to be of a very high quality. You won't be able to have vet checks, and you really wont' know their history.

If you do go, make sure to check with your humane society to see how many reports have been issued from there in the past.

PawNHoofPrints · 10-11-2003, 08:03 PM

The person who owned one of my horses prior to me bought her from an auction. She's a great horse. She's not flashy by any stretch of the imagination, but she does her job well and gets good marks at the shows. She has a great personality, tries her heart out, and is always willing to please. She'll be extremely laid back when a green rider is on her back, but she's ready to go when a more experienced person gets on her back.

However, I don't know if I would want to risk the "what if" by purchasing a horse through an auction myself.

Miz Khiz · 10-11-2003, 08:56 PM

I would LOVE to adopt a horse.. even looked into one time.. but the nearest place is about 10-11 hours from here and that's a bit of a hassle, of course they ship for free but that's a long drive to look at a horse, my dad wouldn't take me.. I can't drive..
I plan to and WILL when I get my own place (And have enough money) get 2 rescue horses..
I'm still not sure about the auctions, I'll go check a few out and see what they have to offer.. Thanks

old timer · 10-12-2003, 05:36 AM

i think you can find good horses at auction. not from personal experience, but from people i know that have. there is one gal that bought a 2yearling paint from auction. only $2000. this paint was registered and thee most beautiful paint i have ever seen! this horse wins in competition at shows, the only problem they have is that he is kind of short for them. he is at least 15 hh, but they want 16 plus. so they are looking again. good luck, and yes i would bring someone that knows a lot about horses with me if i were going to auction.

PiratePrincess · 10-12-2003, 09:00 AM

Answer to Q1 - I think it depends on the auction really. At my local auction the sellers will usually let you have a ride on the horse before you bid but it isn't the same at all auctions.

Amswer to Q2 - Horses end up at auctions for lots of different reasons. Some are there because they aren't very good riding horses, some have a horrible temper, some sellers may just need a quick sale, there isn't a deffinate answer as to why horses are sold at auctions.

I think the best thing to do would be to pop down to the next auction in your are and have a look around to see what's going on.

Let us know how you get on!!

sportpony · 10-12-2003, 10:06 AM

Originally posted by TrailsR4Me:

1.) Are you allowed to ride the horse before giving the money or do you have to pay in advance?

As several said, it depends on the auction, but in most cases the horses that are going to be ridden through the sale and sold as "ride horses" are available before the sale to be ridden.

2.) Are horses at the auction for a reason (like they aren't the greatest horses) or can a good horse end up at auction?

You probably find a bigger majority that are there for a reason than good horses and many of the "good horses" will be there with private owners selling, rather than the horse traders.

What's your opinions on auction horses??

I've bought a lot of horses through auctions over the years and had very few bad buys. However, I've spent most of my life around horses and horse sales so have some advantages.

In general, stay away from horse trader horses.

I've seen them buy a horse off an incoming trailer and ride it through the sale ring as "great trail horse, been riding him all spring, guaranteed sound all around".

I once sold a mare to a horse trader, telling him that you could get on her bareback but you could NOT put a saddle on her. I later discovered her (with another horse trader) who was going to sell her as a gentle, kid broke trail/show mare ... with half-Arab registration papers as well.

I told him I'd owned the mare and what she'd do. He didn't believe me, said the seller had jumped on her bareback in the ring with a halter, slid all over her, ducked under her belly, picked up feet. Couldn't be the same mare. I convinced him to put a saddle on her. He got on, she promptly dumped him, demolished two stall doors and saddle.

I have bought several from horse traders, but always broodmare prospects. I have never bought a "trader horse" expecting it to be sound or without some kind of training problem.

But if you know what you're doing, you can get some super horses ... at great prices ... at auctions. One of my best paint broodmares I bought as a yearling from an auction for $300. Another I bought out of the killer ring for $600 became the foundation mare for my line of champagne sporthorses.

And one of the best geldings I ever owned I bought (from a private seller) through an auction. He did have some "issues" ... he was never a people horse ... he was impossible to catch unless you put him in the corral ... but he was as honest and had as much heart as horse I've ever owned.

Miz Khiz · 10-12-2003, 12:25 PM

Okay thanks so much..
I think I will go and check out a few auctions.. see what they have and how they conduct it.. if I can ride the horse before great.. I'll be sure to check out the auction again
Thanks for all your help

10-11-2003, 06:58 PM	#1
Miz Khiz Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 1,355 Images: 41 Blog Entries: 167	Opinions on buying horses from auction I've always wanted to buy a horse at an auction.. maybe because I feel I'm saving it from something (depending on the type of auction) or I like the idea of auctions.. but I've heard a lot of horror stories from buying horses from auction. Just a few questions I have 1.) Are you allowed to ride the horse before giving the money or do you have to pay in advance? 2.) Are horses at the auction for a reason (like they aren't the greatest horses) or can a good horse end up at auction? What's your opinions on auction horses?? (I know it depends on the auction.. but yeah I don't think there are very good ones around here but I'm wondering if they're worth checking out) __________________ ~Erica~ When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us. - Helen Keller

10-11-2003, 07:06 PM	#3
QHGirl Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 7,704 Images: 368	Some auctions you can ride the horses around before hand, but keep in mind some horse people are not "HONEST" and sometimes can give them bute to mask pain and lameness, and "cocktails" to calm them down to be the best horse. Some people do take good horses to auctions but finding those are hard. I know someone who bought a yearling at a auction (amish auction) and he was not registerd, and grew up to be the nicest horse, beautiful, great comformation and versitle.. english/western/roping etc... loved that horse. BUT some can be completely opposite and not that great. If you are really wanting a horse, try to visit local and area wide 4-H fairs/clubs to see if anyone going to college is trying to sell or lease their horse. That is the best thing, if you can find that type of situation... they are more willing to sell to someone who will use them, than take to auction, not knowing the outcome. Be careful, if you do get one, go to the auction whenever possible, people watch, find out if the same people come back and buy horses, and sell them every time, because they can be considered "horse traders" and normally buy and sell at different auctions, but they are very religious about coming every auction time. Have you thought about rescue? From all of your descriptions and postings and problems from your current mare, I would think you should go with the 4-H or good quality horse in the paper or online comapared to what you get at an auction... that is just my opinion... take it for what it is worth!!!! __________________ I must not forget to thank the difficult horses, who made my life miserable, but who were better teachers than the well-behaved school horses who raised no problems. -Alois Podhaisky Sexy by Christmas Challenge-r!! Start: 0 lbs LOST / Goal: 10 lbs LOST / CURRENT: 0 lbs LOST

10-11-2003, 07:10 PM	#4
Dawn Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 37,203 Images: 1580	Well, here goes. 1.) Are you allowed to ride the horse before giving the money or do you have to pay in advance? It depends on the auction. It would definatly be something that you would want to find out before you even began looking at the horses. You must also be aware that any of those horses could be drugged and/or sedated. That is a big bad point against auctions. 2.) Are horses at the auction for a reason (like they aren't the greatest horses) or can a good horse end up at auction? Again, it depends. There will probably be a majority of there is something wrong with them. Every once in awhile, you'll find a nice horse at an auction. There could be a number of reasons that they're there. It could be that they were too high of a level for the owner, the owner just stopped riding, the horse is old, etc...however, at your average auction, there's probably going to be a reason that you don't like for them being there. If you do go to an auction, you need to take a very highly qualified person with you. Normally, I would suggest your instructor. However, you do not have an instructor. My basic advice to you would be to not go. Unless you're at a really high class auction, they are not going to be of a very high quality. You won't be able to have vet checks, and you really wont' know their history. If you do go, make sure to check with your humane society to see how many reports have been issued from there in the past. __________________ Sexy by Christmas Challenge-r!! Goal: 11 lbs LOST CURRENT: 4 lbs LOST Starting Weight 170 lbs. Goal Weight 155 lbs. Reached! 20 pound club 2009 Starting Weight 152 lbs. Goal Weight 140 lbs. Reached!

10-11-2003, 08:56 PM	#6
Miz Khiz Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 1,355 Images: 41 Blog Entries: 167	I would LOVE to adopt a horse.. even looked into one time.. but the nearest place is about 10-11 hours from here and that's a bit of a hassle, of course they ship for free but that's a long drive to look at a horse, my dad wouldn't take me.. I can't drive.. I plan to and WILL when I get my own place (And have enough money) get 2 rescue horses.. I'm still not sure about the auctions, I'll go check a few out and see what they have to offer.. Thanks __________________ ~Erica~ When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us. - Helen Keller

10-12-2003, 09:00 AM	#8
PiratePrincess Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Central Scotland Posts: 837	Answer to Q1 - I think it depends on the auction really. At my local auction the sellers will usually let you have a ride on the horse before you bid but it isn't the same at all auctions. Amswer to Q2 - Horses end up at auctions for lots of different reasons. Some are there because they aren't very good riding horses, some have a horrible temper, some sellers may just need a quick sale, there isn't a deffinate answer as to why horses are sold at auctions. I think the best thing to do would be to pop down to the next auction in your are and have a look around to see what's going on. Let us know how you get on!! __________________ "These other riders will learn how to look pretty - you will learn how to ride."

10-11-2003, 07:02 PM	#2
BarrelBrat666 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: MS Posts: 22	to answer #2 good horses deffinatly show up @ auctions.... i used to have a friend who would go to the auction every month and hardly ever came bac w/ out something..... and most of the horses she came bac w/ were really good... (not perfect) but not as bad as some.. and i think it depends on the auction and the owner on wether or not u get to ride be4 sometimes u do sometimes u don't hope this helps

10-11-2003, 08:03 PM	#5
PawNHoofPrints Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: USA Posts: 762	The person who owned one of my horses prior to me bought her from an auction. She's a great horse. She's not flashy by any stretch of the imagination, but she does her job well and gets good marks at the shows. She has a great personality, tries her heart out, and is always willing to please. She'll be extremely laid back when a green rider is on her back, but she's ready to go when a more experienced person gets on her back. However, I don't know if I would want to risk the "what if" by purchasing a horse through an auction myself.

10-12-2003, 05:36 AM	#7
old timer Full Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: eastern shore va Posts: 30	i think you can find good horses at auction. not from personal experience, but from people i know that have. there is one gal that bought a 2yearling paint from auction. only $2000. this paint was registered and thee most beautiful paint i have ever seen! this horse wins in competition at shows, the only problem they have is that he is kind of short for them. he is at least 15 hh, but they want 16 plus. so they are looking again. good luck, and yes i would bring someone that knows a lot about horses with me if i were going to auction.

10-12-2003, 10:06 AM	#9
sportpony Full Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Kentucky Posts: 26	Originally posted by TrailsR4Me: 1.) Are you allowed to ride the horse before giving the money or do you have to pay in advance? As several said, it depends on the auction, but in most cases the horses that are going to be ridden through the sale and sold as "ride horses" are available before the sale to be ridden. 2.) Are horses at the auction for a reason (like they aren't the greatest horses) or can a good horse end up at auction? You probably find a bigger majority that are there for a reason than good horses and many of the "good horses" will be there with private owners selling, rather than the horse traders. What's your opinions on auction horses?? I've bought a lot of horses through auctions over the years and had very few bad buys. However, I've spent most of my life around horses and horse sales so have some advantages. In general, stay away from horse trader horses. I've seen them buy a horse off an incoming trailer and ride it through the sale ring as "great trail horse, been riding him all spring, guaranteed sound all around". I once sold a mare to a horse trader, telling him that you could get on her bareback but you could NOT put a saddle on her. I later discovered her (with another horse trader) who was going to sell her as a gentle, kid broke trail/show mare ... with half-Arab registration papers as well. I told him I'd owned the mare and what she'd do. He didn't believe me, said the seller had jumped on her bareback in the ring with a halter, slid all over her, ducked under her belly, picked up feet. Couldn't be the same mare. I convinced him to put a saddle on her. He got on, she promptly dumped him, demolished two stall doors and saddle. I have bought several from horse traders, but always broodmare prospects. I have never bought a "trader horse" expecting it to be sound or without some kind of training problem. But if you know what you're doing, you can get some super horses ... at great prices ... at auctions. One of my best paint broodmares I bought as a yearling from an auction for $300. Another I bought out of the killer ring for $600 became the foundation mare for my line of champagne sporthorses. And one of the best geldings I ever owned I bought (from a private seller) through an auction. He did have some "issues" ... he was never a people horse ... he was impossible to catch unless you put him in the corral ... but he was as honest and had as much heart as horse I've ever owned.

10-12-2003, 12:25 PM	#10
Miz Khiz Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 1,355 Images: 41 Blog Entries: 167	Okay thanks so much.. I think I will go and check out a few auctions.. see what they have and how they conduct it.. if I can ride the horse before great.. I'll be sure to check out the auction again Thanks for all your help __________________ ~Erica~ When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us. - Helen Keller

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